Computer-Based Technology for Aiding the Repair of Motor Vehicles

1. A computer-performed method of parameterizing repair of damage to a motor vehicle by using at least one processor and at least one non-transitory storage device storing executable code, said at least one processor executing said stored executable code to provide a visually-perceptible display on a touch screen display, wherein the touch screen display is provided on a handheld housing containing a camera, the method comprising: (1) automatically receiving, with the at least one processor, input indicating dimensions of a dent, the at least one processor automatically analyzing image data from the camera to automatically ascertain extent of damage to the motor vehicle; (2) automatically receiving, with the at least one processor, touch screen input indicating sharp creases or folds in a repair surface corresponding to the dent; (3) automatically receiving, with the at least one processor, touch screen input indicating gouges, tears or crushed material in the repair surface; (4) automatically receiving, with the at least one processor, touch screen input indicating how many hard worked surfaces are subject to repair in repairing the dent; (5) in response to at least the received inputs, automatically, with the at least one processor, parameterizing at least time and cost to repair the dent; (6) automatically, with the at least one processor, iterating steps (1)-(5) for each of plural dents in the motor vehicle; and (7) automatically calculating, with the at least one processor, totalized parameterized repair outputs for use in changing the repair state of the motor vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 further including displaying, with the at least one processor, vehicle condition on said display device, said displayed condition interactively changing based on approval of selected ones of a list of damage to the motor vehicle.

3. The method as in claim 1 further including the at least one processor automatically calculating an overall condition grade of the motor vehicle based on said inputs.

4. The method of claim 1 further including requesting a user to identify damaged portions of a motor vehicle by touching a flat depiction of the motor vehicle on a touch screen.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said requesting is provided using dropdown menus and radio buttons.

6. In a computing system including a processor, at least one input device, and a display, said computing device including at least one storage device storing executable code to be executed by the processor, said processor at least in part controlling the display to display information that is visually perceptible by a user, said processor accepting input from the user via the at least one input device and affecting the information displayed on the display in order to provide interaction with the user, the display being provided on a handheld housing containing a camera, the computing device processor executing the executable code stored by the storage device to perform the following functions: (a) receive inputted length and width dimensions of a dent in a motor vehicle body; (b) receive inputted number of work hardened areas to be repaired; (c) receive inputted number of panel edges to be repaired; (d) receive inputted number of body lines to be repaired; (e) receive inputted additional damage associated with the dent, the computing device processor automatically analyzing image data from the camera to automatically ascertain extent of damage to the motor vehicle; (f) accept and process said inputted number of work hardened areas to be repaired, number of panel edges to be repaired, number of body lines to be repaired, and additional damage associated with the dent to automatically calculate how much time required to repair the dent based on the length and width of the dent, adjusting the calculated repair time based on the input number of work hardened areas, panel edges, body lines, and additional damage; (g) based on the automatically calculated and adjusted time, automatically calculating how much it will cost to repair the dent; and (h) providing an electronic presentation enabling further input to authorize repair.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein (a) includes requesting a user to input length, width and depth of the dent and the calculating includes using a lookup table to automatically estimate repair time based on the length, width and depth of the dent.

8. The system of claim 6 further including requesting the user to input whether there are any additional damages including sharp creases or folds, crushed metal, tears or gouges.

9. The system of claim 6 further including requesting the user to input whether the body part having the dent is made of aluminum.

10. The system of claim 6 wherein said processor executes said instructions to calculate repair time at least in response to work in hard area, lines within dent, and dimensions of dent.

11. The system of claim 6 wherein the processor requests the user to input the length and width of the dent using a dropdown menu.

12. The system of claim 6 wherein the processor requests the user to enter number of panel edges using a dropdown menu.

13. The system of claim 6 wherein the processor requests the user to enter the number of work hard areas using a dropdown box.

14. The system of claim 6 wherein the processor requests the user to input the depth of the dent using radio buttons.

15. The system of claim 6 wherein the processor uses formulas and data matrices to calculate body labor hours by calculating labor hours based on dent width and length parameters, and then adjusts the number of labor hours based on number of work hard areas, number of panel edges, number of body lines, depth of the dent and additional damages.

16. The system of claim 6 wherein the processor calculates a running total of repair estimate of all dents on the same vehicle panel.

17. The system of claim 6 wherein said display comprises a touch screen, and said enabling is provided by the user touching the touch screen either directly or with a stylus.

18. The system of claim 6 wherein said computing device comprises a portable, wirelessly-connected inspection device having said display on a surface thereof and housing said at least said processor and a wireless communications device.

19. A non-transitory storage device storing executable instructions that when executed by at least one processor control the processor to parameterize repair of damage to a motor vehicle, said processor being configured to provide a visually-perceptible display on a touch screen display, wherein the touch screen display is provided on a handheld housing containing a camera, the non-transitory storage device storing: first instructions controlling the processor to automatically request a user to input dimensions of a dent; second instructions controlling the processor to automatically request the user to input via the touch screen whether there are sharp creases or folds in a repair surface corresponding to the dent; third instructions controlling the processor to automatically request the user to input via the touch screen whether there are gouges, tears or crushed material in the repair surface; fourth instructions controlling the processor to automatically request the user to input via the touch screen how many hard worked surfaces are subject to repair in repairing the dent; fifth instructions controlling the processor to automatically analyze image data from the camera to automatically ascertain extent of damage to the motor vehicle, and in response to at least the received user inputs, automatically parameterize at least time and cost to repair the dent by using a length and width lookup matrix to calculate labor hours based on the width and length parameters, add additional body time based on number of work hard areas, number of panel edges, number of body lines, depth of the dent, sharp crease or fold, crushed metal and other factors; sixth instructions controlling the processor to automatically iterate execution of the first through fifth instructions for each of plural dents in the motor vehicle; and seventh instructions controlling the processor to automatically provide parameterized repair outputs that will result in changing the repair state of the motor vehicle.